Death of Paul Biaggini, former director of La Marseillaise

It is a figure of the press and of the PCF of the south-east of France who passed away this Thursday, December 19. Paul Biaggini, former director of the Marseillaisedied at the age of 90. Son of a PTT postman and a worker, he was born in Marseille.

At the end of his studies, he became a fitter-toolmaker in a precision mechanics workshop. It was in the 1950s, at the age of 18, that his political involvement began, when he joined the Union of Republican Youth of France (UJRF, young communists of the time), then the PCF. The worker will also be a union member with the CGT. Sent to Algeria in December 1955 as part of his military service, he was imprisoned for circulating a petition denouncing the war and refusing to participate in operations.

When he returned to civilian life, his political commitment took a new turn in 1958, when he became secretary of the PCF section of Menpenti, which spread over several working-class neighborhoods in the industrial valley of Huveaune. In 1968, he joined the federal management of Bouches-du-Rhône, notably assuming responsibility for the training of executives, then policy towards intellectuals and culture. It was in the 1970s that he became an elected official in the Marseille capital. In March 1973, he was elected substitute deputy for the 5^e constituency and, in September, vice-president of the general council of Bouches-du-Rhône.

In 1983, he was appointed director of the Marseillaise. He worked to modernize the regional daily and, in 1985, he created a new tabloid format. In 1997, he gave another direction to the communist newspaper, which moved from a party organ to an information and opinion press open to society, local struggles and the debate of ideas. In 2010, his declining health led him to hand over, after twenty-seven years at the head of the title born during the Resistance fight.

Humanity extends its most sincere condolences to his family and loved ones.